Lighting fixture



June 16, 1925.

T. J. NELSON LIGHTING FIXTURE Original Filed June 16 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet1 June 16, 1925, 1,542,778

T. J. NELSON I LIGHTING FIXTURE Original Filed June 16. 1920 2sheets-sheet 2 7360 dore .l Wei 021.

Patented June 16, .1925.,

UNITED STATES i 1,542,718 PATENT OFFICE.

THEODOBE J'. NELSON, rOI' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,.ASSIGNOR TO COLONIAL LAMP &FIX- TUBE WORKS, OF'CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

LIGHTING FIXTURE,

. Application led June 16, 1920, Serial No. 389,294. Renewed November2l, 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, Tnnonons J. NELSON,-

a subject of the King of Sweden, residing at Chicago, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Lighting Fixtures, of which the following is aspecification.

In the present interior lighting systems it is customary to installelectric fixtures in permanent locations, or provide fioor or tablelamps which, although portable, are not adapted for adjustable mounting,or convenient for general use in various places where one may desire tohave a lamp temporarily. A number of small portable electric fixtureshave been produced which may be readily carried and suspended orsupported in various Ways so as to afford a wide range of utility, andit is the purpose of this invention to provide a new fixture or lamp ofthis character.

The principal objects of my invention are to avoid the use of hooks,clamps, springs or other fastening devices for mounting the fixture in.desired positions; to adapt the fixture for mounting on supports ofpractically any size or shape; to provide a fixture which requires noactual connection or attachment to the support and may therefore 3 beconveniently changed from place to place and will not scratch or mar thesupport; to lprovide an improved fiexible hanger for a fixture; to adaptthe fixture to maintain a level position when the hanger is attachedthereto at orI close to one side; to hold the flexible hanger in placeon a support by counterbalancing the weight of the fixture; to providethe hanger with ample surface to afford a substantial kfrictionalengagement with a support; to prevent twisting and turning movement ofthe suspended fixture on a vertical axis; 'to conceal the conductorswhich lead to the illuminating element of the fixture and arrange sameso that they serve as a reinforcement for the hanger; to adapt thefixture so that it may, if desired, be used as a small table lamp; topermit substantial adjustment of the fixture when it is mounted on asupport; to provide a fixture of this character which may be folded iu asmall compact form for shipping or carrying around from place to place;to provide an improved shade support; and in-general, to provide asimple, inexpensive, convenient and unique fixture of the abovecharacter which is capable of construction 1n a very attractive andpleasing form.

On the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective vlew of my improved fixturesuspended over a bed end; Figure 2, an enlarged side view of the fixturewith parts broken away and other parts in secti `n to disclose detailsof construction; Figurgb, an enlarged sectional view on the line 3 3 ofFigure 2; Figure 4, an enlarged sectional view on the line 4--4 ofFigure 2 with supporting strap omitted; Figure 5, a sectional view ofthe weighted end of the flexible support taken on the line 5 5 of Figure2; Figure 6, a sectional view of the flex'ble support on the line 6 6 ofFigure 2; igure 7, a fragmentar detail sectional iew on the line 7 7 oFigure 4 showing the manner of attaching ,the flexible support to thebase of .the fixture; and Figure 8 is a detail view partly in section ofthe hinge joint of the fixture taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral l indicates a flatcircular shell which forms the top of the fixture base and lhas anannular depending flange 2, and a short tubular stem 3 secured in anysuitable manner to the raised central portion of the shell. This tubularstem 3 is provided at its outer end with a forked extension comprising apair of spaced arms 4, each of which is pivotally connected with acorresponding arm 6 of a similar forked extension of another shorttubular stem 8, which latter has a lamp socket 9 secured to the outerend thereof. A separate pivot 5 is employed for connecting each arm 5with the corresponding arm 6 so as to leave a clear space therebetweenthrough which the lamp cord 30 passes from the stem 3 to the stem 8, andI prefer to enclose the lamp cord at the joint bya flexible tube 36 ofrubber or other suitable material, the ends of which are extended intothe openings through the stems 3 and 8, as shown in Figure 8, so as tohold the tube in place and protect the wire at the point where it entersthe stems 3 and 8.

The socket 9 has a lamp 10 secured therein in the usual manner, and Ihave provided a shade holder which is clamped onto the outer end of thesocket 9 merely by mounting the lamp in the socket.

Electric sockets of the present type are usually provided with anannular corru- 4 at a short distance from the end thereof so as to leavea straight surface 12 projecting a short distance beyond the corrugatlon11, In my construction I provide a ring 13 which fits onto the endportion 12 of the socket against the corrugation 11 and projectsslightly beyond the end of the socket so as be engaged by the taperedbase of the lamp 10 when the latter is screwed in the socket. Thus thelamp serves to hold the ring 13 in place on the outer end of the socketand provides a convenient mountlng enabling the shade holder to beturned about the end of the socket for adjusting the shade. The ring 13has an arm 14 extending laterally therefrom, to the outer end of whichare secured the ends 15 of a spring Iband 16, said ends being pivoted tothe outer end of the arm 14 by the rivet 17, and the spring tension ofthe band provides frictional engagement to ho-ld the band and shadeholder in any osition to which it is adjusted on the pivot 1 `The band16 is of substantially circular form (or may be otherwiseshaped ifdesired) and extends around the socket 9 and the lamp 10 at a suitabledistance therefrom so that when the ring is swung on the pivot 17, theouter extremity ofthe band will pass over or clear a lamp 10 of theordinary size, which is used in this fixture. A semicylindrical shade 38is secured at its edge to the band 16, as shown, and supported on asuitable marginal frame 18, and this shade may be constructed of fabricor any suitable material in ornamental form or otherwise as desired.

The base of the lamp is designed to support the fixture in an uprightposition when yused as a table lamp and is also designed tocounterbalance the outwardly projecting` portions of the fixture whenthelatter is suspended and for these purposes thev bottom of the basecomprises a fiat circular weight 19 whic-h has a reduced portioninserted into the bottom of the shell 1. I prefer to cover the lowersurface of the weight 19 with felt or other fabric to prevent thebase-of the fixture from marring a surface against which it comes inContact, and this is accomplished by placing a disk 20 of fabric overthe bottom and turning the edges thereof up over the edges of the weight19 and tying same by a cord 21 which is passed around the reducedportion of the weight which fits within the shell 1, the weight beingpreferably provided with an annular groove 22 allowing the cord and thefabric to bedrawn tight into the groove. The weight is retained in theshell 1 by a plurality of screws 23 which are passed through the annulariiange 2 of the Vshell and project into openings 24 provided thereforaround the edge of the weight 19,

said screws having either a threaded connection with the shell 'or theWeight as dcsired.

For suspending the fixture there is a wide strap or tape 25 of suitablelenth which has one end secured to the top of the shell land the otherend provided with a/weight 28,. capable of counterbalancing `thefixture. This strap is `pineferably of two-ply fabric or other flexiblematerial, the upper covering of which may, if desired, consistl of anornamental braid 26 which is sewed along the edges to the bottomv stripY27 and at intermediate points, if desired, to properly reinforce andstifl'en thecstrip. The weight 28 is enclosed and secured in the outerend of the two-ply strap 25 and held in lace in any suitable manner asby cross stitc ings 29,. and the two strands 39 and 40 of the lamp cord30 which has an attachment plug 31 at the outer,f end, are led into theouter end of the strap 25, and the two strands thereof sewed between thetwo parts 26 and 27 of the strap along the edges thereof by the means ofstitchings 32 and 33 so that the two strands of lamp cords serve as areinforcing or stiflening for the strap. The strap 25 is of suitablelength as may be required for ordinary use, as for example suspendingsame over a bed end as shown, over a piano top or any other desirablesupport and also to permit the necessary vertical adjustment of thefixture, and the inner end of the strap is secured flatwiseto the shell1 at a suitable point so that when the fixture is suspended the weight19 will counterbalance the projecting arts of the fixture 'and causesame to hang reely in a ,horizontal or level position. e

For connecting the strap 25 to the shell 1, I prefer to provide theshell in its upper surface with a slot 34-of substantially the samelength as the width of the strap, and the outer edge of this slot isformed with a plurality of inwardly projecting teeth 35. These teeth arebent inwardly so as to permit the end of the strap 25 to be insertedthrough the slot 34 whereupon the teeth are bent outwardly as indicatedin Figure 7 so that the points` engage the material of the strap andlock same securely to the shell.

The two strands 39 and 40 of the lamp cord are brought together beyondthe end of the strap 25 in the shell 1 and inserted through the nipples3 and 8 and have the ends connected with the socket 9.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that this fixture may be readilyused as a table lamp or may be suspended in a variety of places whererequired-to afford a convenient light, as for example, over a bed end orover the top of a piano, and in either case the outer extremity of thefixture comprising the socket 9 and nipple 8 may be swung on the hinges5 to position the lamp 10 as required and the shade 18 may also be swungaroundthe lamp 10 and also swung upon the pivot 17 so as to afford a.universal adjustment of the shade and direct the light wherever reuired.

The broa band 25 not only affords a large friction surface to hold thelamp in the suspended position and offset slight dif ferences in theweight of the lamp and the counterbalance 28, but also on account of itswidth, serves to hold the lamp from twisting and turning when suspended.Furthermore, the strap is connected to the shell 1 so that the weight 19counterbalances the outwardly extending parts of the fixture and holdsthe fixturein substantially a horizontal position and prevents the outerend of' the fixture dropping down to an angular position. This is alsofacilitated by the connection of the strap to the upper surface of theshell 1 at a distance inwardly from the edge, so that the outer edge ofthe lshell bears against the back of the strap and serves to preventtipping of the fixture from the horizontal position.

`While I have shown and described my in-v vention in a particularform,`I am aware that various changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from the rinciples-of my invention, the scope of W ichis to be determined bythe appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class` described, the combination of a flexiblehanger, a Ifixture attached to and adapted to be suspended by the hangerand comprising a lighting element and counterweight therefor disposed atopposite sides respectively of the hanger and a weight on the hanger ata distance from the fixture for holding the latter counterpoised when'an intermediate portion of the hanger is engaged over a support.

2. In a lighting fixture, the combination of a substantially flat base,an arm extending laterally from one side of the base and provided with alamp socket at the outer end, andia flexible hanger secured to the baseat the side thereof from which the arm projects so that the parts atopposite sides of the hanger are substantially counterbalanced when thebase occupies an upright position. f

3. In a lighting fixture, the combination of a stem having a lamp-socketat one end and an enlargement at the other end serving as a supportingbase, a weight in the enlargement and a flexible hanger secured to andextending laterally from the inner face of said enlargement, so that theweight in the enlargement counterbalances the socket and attachments atthe other end of the stem and maintains the fixture in a substantiallylevel position when suspended by the flexible hanger.

4.7111 a lighting fixture, the combination f the weighted of a basehaving a flat supporting surface forsupportmg the fixture in an uprightposition, a stem connected to the base and adapted to extend upwardlytherefrom when the latter is resting on said supporting surface, a lampsocket at the outer end of thestem, and a flat flexible hanger connectedto the base, so as to suspend the latter in such a manner that thesupporting surface of the base lies substantially in a vertical plane.

5. In a lighting fixture, the combination of a stem having a socket atone end and a weighted shell at the other end serving as a base for thefixture, and a flexible support, comprising circuit wires for thesocket, connected to the shell at the inner side, so that shellcounterbalanoes the socket and its attachments when suspended by saidsupport, and holds the bottom surface of the base flat against the sidesurface of an upright member when the flexible support is engaged overthe upper edge of such member.

6. In a lighting fixture, the combinationI of a stem having a base atone end and a lamp socket at the other end, a supporting strap securedto the base and of suitable width to hold the fixture against turningaround a vertical axis when suspended by the strap, and a weight in thebase and at the side of the strap opposite the socket and itsattachments and adapted to counterbalance the socket and its attachmentswhen the fixture is suspended by the strap.

7. The combinationwith a lamp having a socket with suitable base of astrap secured to the lamp and extending laterally therefromsubstantially in a plane coincident with the center of gravity of thelamp, for suspending the latter in a horizontal position, said strapbeing provided with circuit wires extending lengthwise thereof andleading to the socket, and a weight at the outer end of the strap forcounter-balancing the lamp when the strap is hung over a support.

8. In a lighting fixture, the combination of a base havingv a lampsocket mounted thereon, a strap connected to the base so as to afford ahanger for supporting the fixture in a level position, said strap beingof suitable width to hold the fixture against turning movement around avertical axis when suspended by the strap, circuit wires secured to andextending along the strap adjacent the edges thereof and leading to thelamp socket, and a weight at the outer end of the strap forcounter-balancing the fixture when the intermediate portion ofv thestrap is engaged over a support.

9. In a lighting fixture, the 'combination of a stem having a lampsocket at one end and an enlarged flat shell at the other end serving asa base for the fixture, a strap of suitable width to hold the fixturefrom turning on a vertical axis when suspended thereby and having oneend inserted through the upper Wall of the shell, locking meansadaptedto engage the inserted end o f the strap to secure same to theshell, circuit wires secured to and extending lengthwise of the strapand leading into the socket, a weight in the base for counterbalancingthe socket and its attachments when the fixture is suspended -by thestrap, and a weight at the outer end of the strap for counterbalancingthe fixture when the intermediate portion of the strap is engaged over asupport.

10. In a lighting fixture, the combination of an annularly enlargedbase, a socket mounted on the base at a distance therefrom, and aflexible hanger secured to the upper surface of the base at a distancefrom the outer edge, so that when the fixture is suspended b v theflexible hanger an outer portion of the base engages against the hangerand serves to maintain the fixture in a level position.

11. In a lighting fixture, the combination of a base having a socketmounted thereon, means for suspending the fixture, a lamp adapted to be'secured in the' outer end of the socket, a ring adapted to be securedto the outerend of the socket by the engagement of the lamp with thelatter, an arm extending laterally from the ring and a frame comprisinga longitudinal member extending around the lamp and socket and havingthe ends thereof pivoted to the outer end of the arm, and a lamp shademounted on the frame.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination of a lightingfixture and a counterwei-ght connected by a flexible.

hanger so that the fixture is held in equilibrium, when the hanger isengaged over a support, said fixture comprising a lighting elementspaced laterally from the flexible hanger and means at the opposite sideof the flexible hanger for counterbalancing the lighting element.

.13. In a device of theuclass described, the combination of a lightingfixture, a flexible hanger connected to the lighting fixture at a pointdisproportionately distant from the opposite sides of the fixture, meanscompensatmg for the laterally offset connection of the hanger with thefixture so as to hold the latter in equilibrium when suspended by thehangen, a counterweight ,on the flexible y hanger at a distance from'the fixture for counterbalancing the latter, when the flexible hanger isengaged over a support and circuit Wires' leading through the flexiblehanger to the lighting fixture.

V14. In a device of the class described the combination of a lightingfixture having a base, `a lighting element mounted' on and spaced fromthe base, a flexible hanger se-- cured to the face of the base nearestto the lighting element, so that the latter is counterbalanced by andholds the base in fixture is suspended flexible hanger.

15. In a device of the class described, the combination of a fixture anda counterweight connected by a flexible hanger, said fixture comprisinga base having a li hting element mounted thereon and lateral y disposedfroni the base, when the fixture is suspended by the hanger, said basebeing provided at the side remote from the lighting element with an upriht face adapted to engage against the side ace of a support, when thehanger is engaged over the latter.

16. In a lig ting fixture, the combination of af base, flexiblesupporting means' for the base connected therewith at laterally spacedpoints so as to hold the base against lateral tilting in the plane ofthe spaced connections, said base being disposed substantially at oneside of said plane, and having an arm extending laterally therefrom atthe opposite side and provided with a socket at the outer end so thatthe weight of the base substantially counterbalances the parts at theopposite side of the plane and the base is maintained Aby the hanger ina substantially uprightfposition.

17. In a lighting fixture, the combination of a substantially fiat basehaving a slotat one side thereof adjacent the outer edge, an armextending laterally from Said side of the base and provided with asocket at the outer end, a flexible stra-p having one end engaged in theslot and provided with a counterweight at the other end, and circuitwires combined with the strap and extending lengthwise thereof andleading through the slot into the base and connected through the armwith the socket.

18. In a fixture of the class described, the combination of a basehaving a lamp socket mounted thereon, said base being rovided With asupporting face which is a a-pted to rest on a horizontal surface andhold the socket at an elevation thereabove, a flexible hanger extendinglaterally from said base for suspending the base in an upright fpositionwith the socket at the side thereof, said flexible hanger comprising anelectrical conductor having an attachment plug at the outer end thereof,and a weight mounted on t-he flexible hanger intermediate of the baseand attachment plug for counterbalancing the fixture when the flexiblehanger is hung over a support intermediate of the base and weight.

19. In a portable lighting fixture, the combination of a base having asupporting surface, a flexible han er connected with the base so as tosuspend t e latter withthe supporting surface of the latter in uprightposition, a counterweight on the hanger for counterbalancing the fixturewhen an intermediate portion of 'the hanger is engaged from the front ofthe base, and a lamp sock-f et on the outer end of the arm.

20. In a, portable lighting fixture, the

combination of a base adapted to rest fiat upon a horizontal su portlngsurface and having an arm exten ing outwardly there' from with a lampsocket at the outer end thereof, a flexible support connected with,

the base for suspending the latter so that the supporting surfacethereof aumes an upright position to bear against a. vertical surface,and a counterweight on the flexible hanger at a distance from the baseand adapted to counterbaance the latter when an mtermediate portion ofthe hanger is engaged .over a support.

21'. The combination of a. portable lighting fixture having a supportingbase and a flexible hanger and adapted to be optionally supported by thebase or hanger, said hanger having a counterweight attached thereto at adistance from the supporting base and being provided with a pair ofelectrical conductors therein projecting beyond the counterweight andprovided with an attachment plug at the outer end.

A THEODORE J. NELSON.

